Victor Osimhen and Dusan Vlahovic are on Arsenal’s radar after the club’s attempt to sign Benjamin Sesko failed, The Pitch Prospect has learned.
Mikel Arteta was keen to sign a number 9 this summer to compete with Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus in attack.
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RB Leipzig star Sesko was said to be the club’s biggest interest, but he turned down suitors from England in order to stay in Germany for at least another season.
The 21-year-old, who will coach Slovenia against England at Euro 2024, is expected to sign a new contract at the Red Bull Arena shortly.
His decision will see Arsenal turn their attention elsewhere in their attempt to sign a 20-goal striker – something no centre-forward has managed to do at the Emirates since Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the 2019/20 season.
The Pitch Prospect chief football correspondent Alex Crook has revealed Arsenal’s preferred alternatives for Sesko, including Napoli striker Osimhen and Juventus star Vlahovic, who had previously rejected the Gunners.
On The Pitch Prospect he said: “It is being reported in Germany and we understand that this is the case, he [Sesko] will sign a new contract, probably with an exit clause.
“I think this time next year we’ll be talking about Sesko again, but it’s a blow to Arsenal because they need the No. 9.”
“Names that were mentioned to me today as alternatives, like Victor Osimhen, but he has a massive release clause [£112million].
“And Vlahovic too, but obviously they were flirting with him before and he didn’t really pay attention to them, so I don’t really understand it.”
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Nigerian international Osimhen is considered one of the most dangerous strikers in world football and scored 76 goals during his four years in Italy.
His 26 goals in Serie A in the 2022/23 season led Napoli to their first Scudetto title since 1990.
Chelsea are known to be long-time admirers of the 25-year-old, who has made no secret of his desire to one day play in the Premier League.
Vlahovic, who is one of Serbia’s most important players and will also face the Three Lions at the European Championships, is no stranger to Arsenal.
There has been much speculation that the 24-year-old could move to north London in the 2022 winter transfer window after his sterling performance at Fiorentina.
Instead, however, he decided to join the Old Lady, for whom he scored 41 goals in 101 games – including the winning goal in the 2024 Coppa Italia final against Atalanta.
Vlahovic has admitted that a move to Arsenal never crossed his mind. It remains to be seen whether Arteta decides to revive his interest.
Bologna striker Joshua Zirkzee has also emerged as a possible option for Arsenal; the 23-year-old scored twelve goals last season.
However, it seems unlikely that Arsenal will convert their interest into a formal offer as AC Milan try to secure his services.
And Sporting Lisbon goal machine Viktor Gyokeres remains on Arteta’s shortlist after scoring 43 goals in his first season in Portugal.